.223 Powder Choice - HALP!

[Quiet]

I use Varget in the .223 when I'm using heavy match bullets in a bolt action and weighing each charge (and casings).

For the AR15 I generally stick with the ball powders now because it meters well enough to produce good accuracy, but I can load in volume, quickly.

 

[gushulak]

BLC-2 is the way to go for mass production. Easy metering wins out over Varget. Use Varget for hand metered match loads. I have used BLC-2 in .223 but have since settled on Win 748 as my go to powder for mass production reloading.

 

[sonoftweety]

i still use imr3031 it is a dirty powder but remains consistant between summer and winter shooting

 

[warrenb]

For 60 grainers and under I use BLC2. Above that Varget is good, but give IMR XBR 8208 a try. It meters better than Varget but not quite as good as a ball powder. It seems to have wide accuracy nodes in my 223s. Its also temp stable as far as my summer and winter shooting shows.

I'm not surprised so many recommend BLC2 and Varget in this thread but don't know why we don't hear more using 8202.

 

[caramel]

My pet load for my MR-1 is BL-C2 all the way, very accurate powder... JP.

 

[Dean2]

For 60 grainers and under I use BLC2. Above that Varget is good, but give IMR XBR 8208 a try. It meters better than Varget but not quite as good as a ball powder. It seems to have wide accuracy nodes in my 223s. Its also temp stable as far as my summer and winter shooting shows.

I'm not surprised so many recommend BLC2 and Varget in this thread but don't know why we don't hear more using 8202.

8208 is still a relatively new powder. People that developed good accurate lioads with the older powders don't often go back and redevelop new loads for the same gun. I know in my case, I use a lot of 8208, it works great in 223 and 204, but it is in guns I have bought since the powder came out. I have yet to try Hogdons newest 223 powder, the clean burning wonder, despite lots of good reviews, for exactly that reason. I haven't bought a new 223 since it came out.